Nestlé has converted its Nesquik ready-to-drink portfolio to a new recyclable shrink sleeve label that can be recycled in the U.S. The new sleeve is made with materials that allow the bottle and sleeve to be recycled together, without needing to remove the sleeve. The company estimates 4,500 metric tons of PET plastic will be easier to recycle each year, enabling more accurate sorting at recycling facilities. There are  consumer facing videos outlining the process. 

Despite these advancements in packaging circularity, the environmental benefits are considerably outweighed by the substantial greenhouse gas emissions associated with Nestlé’s dairy and livestock supply chains. These ingredients constitute the majority of the company’s Scope 3 emissions, accounting for 30%. The emphasis on packaging recyclability, particularly through consumer-facing communications, detracts from the more significant environmental impacts of the product’s primary ingredients. Consumers are being misinformed about the product’s true environmental impacts.